RUSSIAN FLAG PAINTED ON LITTLE MERMAID STATUE
A case of vandalism has been opened by Copenhagen police after it was found that a Russian flag was painted on the base of The Little Mermaid statue in Denmark.
It’s believed that the statue, known as the country’s most famous landmark, was vandalised because Denmark has been very vocal about its criticism of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The vandalism was discovered when tourists showed up to take photographs early on Thursday morning.
It’s not the first time that The Little Mermaid has been vandalised. The statue weighs 175 kilograms and sits on a waterfront promenade that’s quite secluded, but that hasn’t stopped people from vandalising it.
The mermaid’s head has been stolen in 1964 and again in 1998. Her arm was cut off in 1984 and in 1998 her head was cut off. It was returned soon after, but in 2003 the entire statue was blown up.
It has also been tagged and painted on several occasions. In 2020 the words ‘Racist fish’ was inscribed on it.
The sculpture was made by sculptor Edvard Eriksen and inspired by a character in Hans Christian Andersen’s 1837 fairytale named The Little Mermaid.
At this stage, the police have no idea who is responsible for the painting of the Russian flag.
Image credit: DW